When planning a corporate event there are many different areas you need to consider and moving parts to make it all come together. We’ve compiled a list of our best articles in one convenient place to help you plan your next corporate event and make sure all your bases are covered.
Corporate Event Checklist
To help kick us off and keep us organized, you’ll want to utilize some kind of event checklist to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything. Instead of reinventing the wheel, you can use this one we put together and tailor it for your own events!
Venue
First, you’ll need to select your venue. Finding a venue for your corporate event is the first step in setting yourself up for success. Read more about what to look for when picking an event venue here, and specifically what to look for when picking a conference venue here.
Contracts
When planning an event you’ll need to sign event contracts with your venue, vendors, and partners. Contracts can seem intimidating but it’s important you understand what you are signing, and the know-how to negotiate for what you want. Check out more of our tips on contract negotiation here.
Food & Beverage
Arguably the most important aspect of any event - the food. Whether you are working with the venue's in-house provider for food or beverage or hiring out to a catering company - you’ll want to make sure that you have enough food for your guests. We wrote an article to help you order - read it here.
Audio Visual
AV is often one of the most overlooked aspects of events, but it can make or break your attendees' experience - nothing is more frustrating than AV that doesn’t work, and it can throw your presenters off as well. When ordering AV it can feel like your provider is speaking a different language - to make sure you are on the same page we put together a list of the basic AV terms you need to know here.
Entertainment
Depending on what type of event you are throwing - you may want to include some form of entertainment. This can range from games to an act such as a comedian or having dancers to musical performances by a band or DJ. We have some game ideas for you here, and some more corporate event entertainment ideas here.
Invitations
Depending on your event you may opt for sending event invitations - this will give you a good idea of your RSVPs or expected attendance. The type of invite you send depends on how formal the event you are throwing is. If it is a black-tie event you may opt for a more traditional invite, whereas if it is a more casual dinner a simple Evite may suffice. Learn more about corporate event invites here, and the pros and cons of Evites here.
Decor & Design
When planning your corporate event you’ll want to take into consideration the kind of decor and design you are going for. When talking about event design, we are thinking of attendee flow, how the space is set up, and if it is conducive to the type of event we are throwing. For decor, you want to consider what elements will create that wow factor for your guests and event, and still be practical and add to the overall experience. You can get some ideas by checking out these corporate event trends here.
Photographer
Hiring a photographer for your corporate event is a good way to ensure you have professional photos that you can use on your event website, social media, or marketing efforts for future events. If you are still not convinced, check out our article on why you should hire a photographer for your event here.